Method and apparatus for handling materials



Aug. 15, 1933. F. s. MILLER El AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed Nov. 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l l- T l I l l I l 1 .NV EN'TORS FL .33 M

Aug. 15, 1933. F. s MILLER ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed Nov. 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented -Aug. 15, 1933 1,923,009 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATER Frank S. Miller and James ville, 0

IALS

Farrington, Steubenhio Application November 4, 1931. Serial No. 572,948 13 Claims. (01. 20912l) The present invention relates broadly to the handling of materials, and more particularly to the handling of sheet materials having magnetic characteristics. For purposes of a clearer under- 5 standing, the invention will hereinafter be described as applicable to the weighing and sorting of tin plates and sheets of equivalent nature, although it is to be understood that the utility of the invention is not limited to the particular material being handled. The term sheets and equivalent terms hereinafter used for purposes of description shall be construed as words of definition and not words of limitation.

It is well recognized in the sheet mill industry that individual sheets, regardless of how accurately they are manufactured, vary appreciably in gauge, width and length. Whi1e users permit certain tolerances in either direction from a specified weight, no effective means has heretofore been provided for individually checking successive sheets as to their actual weight. The sheets are customarily sold in boxes; eachbox including a given number of sheets.

If the' individual sheets in the box run heavy, the manufacturer is losing a profit which he might otherwise realize on orders specifying heavier gauges. While if the sheets of a given box run light, they are apt to be rejected by the customer.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for individually weighing and sorting successive sheets into three or more general classifications which will hereinafter be designated as light, medium and heavy when of three classifications. it will be apparent With these three general classes,

that the manufacturer is afforded protection both as to his own output and that the customer is insured of receiving sheets which conform to specifications. In certain cases it may be desirable to place in a given box a certain number of light sheets together with a certain number of medium sheets; in other cases to provide given quantities of medium and heavy sheets in the same box, and in still other cases to provide light, medium. and

heavy sheets in the same box. In each case,

however, the number of the respective sheets is so chosen that the total weiglit of the box will conform to standard specifications, thus protecting the manufacturer against the supply of excessive material on a given order, and the customer from undesired thicknesses.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated more or less diagrammatically a preferred embodiment of the drawing present invention; In the Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the direction of .travel of the sheets and the division into the three classifications referred to;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of one form of apparatus by means of which such a weighing and sorting is accomplished;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one form of weighing pointer utilized in accordance with our invention;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view "on an enlarged scale through a portion of the scale illustrating the control circuits;

Figure 6 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 6, the motor being removed; and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view along the line VIII-V111 of Figure 6.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a suitable supporting frame 2 including a receiving unit 3 and a receiving and so weighing unit 4. The receiving unit is herein shown as comprising a conveyor 5 adapted to be driven by a motor 6 in the direction'illustrated by the arrow 7. This conveyor may be of any desired material, but for purposes of convenience preferably comprises canvas, rubber, or the like.

The travel of the conveyor '7 delivers the sheets placedthereon to a second conveyor 8 which is also of theendless type including a conveying belt of non-magnetic material. The conveyor 8 is carried by rollers 9 journaled in a platform 10 mounted entirely on a scale platform 11. Movements of the scale platform are indicated in known manner by a pointer 12. In Figure 3 the pointer is illustrated as occupying an intermediate position, which is the position which it will assume for sheets of medium weight. With light weightsheets the pointer may swing to the left, while for heavy weight sheets the movement will be to the right from the general position illus- 1 9 trated in Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a sheet A in position on the conveyor 8. If the sheet is of medium weight the pointer of the scale will move substantially to the position shown in Figure 3, and by reason of the mechanism hereinafter to be described, the sheet will be automatically conveyed in the direction illustrated by the arrow- M. If it is of light weight, it will continue its forward travel on the conveyor 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow L, while if it is a heavy sheet, it will be automatically transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow H. The desired movement having been effected, a succeeding sheet B will be advanced into the position formerly occupied by the sheet A, and thereupon automatically weighed and delivered in the manner described.

The sorting and delivering mechanism for the sheets is herein shown as comprising a pair of cross conveyors 14 and 15 respectively, carried by cross bars 16. The cross conveyors comprise re spectively, rolls 17 and 18 arranged in groups, with magnets 19 and 20 cooperating with the rolls of each group. Each of the magnets is adapted to be energized by a suitable coil 21 whereby with current flowing through the coil the rolls will be sufliciently magnetized to lift a sheet in position thereunder. As will be apparent from Figure 2 of the drawings, the rolls 17 and 18 normally overlie the conveyor 8 whereby, when energized they will be effective for lifting a sheet and moving it in one direction or the other.

For driving the rolls 1'7 and 18 there is provided a motor 22 to the armature shaft of which is secured a pinion 23 meshing with a gear 24 on a shaft 25. Also carried by this shaft is a pinion 26 which meshes with a gear 27 on the axle of one of the rolls 18. The gear 27 is in turn connected in driving relation to each of the other rolls of the group through the gear train 28, the gear being such that all of the rolls 18 are rotated in one direction. The gear 26 is likewise effective for driving all of the rolls 17 in the reverse direction through an intermediate gear 29 and a gear train 30. During the operation of the apparatus, the motor is continuously operated whereby the rolls 17 are continuously driven in one direction and the rolls 18 continuously driven in the other direction. If the rolls 17 are magnetized. which is the operation with a medium weight sheet, the sheet lying therebelow is picked up. and moved in the direction of the arrow M, while if the rolls 18 are magnetized, as in the case of a heavy sheet, such sheet is picked up and moved in the direction of the arrow H in Figure 1. With a light sheet, neither set of rolls is energized and the sheet travels forwardly in the direction of the arrow L.

For automatically controlling the energizing of the rolls, there is provided a mechanism responsive to light. This mechanism includes a light source 31 arranged in front of the dial 32 of the scale, such dial being provided with a slot or series of openings 33 over which the pointer 12 travels in its swinging movements. Carried by the pointer are light shields 34 herein illustrated as being adjustable to vary the width thereof, the light shields when utilized being of relatively light material such as aluminum which will not unduly increase the weight of the pointer. In back of the dial 32, at an intermediate point is a light responsive unit 35, a similar unit 36 lying behind the dial adjacent the heavy end of the scale. trated in Figure 5 may comprise selenium cells, grid glow tubes or the like, effective when receiving more or less light for becoming more highly conductive.

By reference to Figure 5 it will be found that we provide line wires L and L. From the line wire L a connection 37 leads to each of the coils 21, the opposite side of each coil being connected by a wire 38 to a contact 39. In spaced relation to each contact 39 is a second contact 40 having These units as diagrammatically illusa connection 41 to line wire L. Cooperating with the contacts 39 and 40 are magnetic switches 42 and 42 of the solenoid type included within the circuit of either the unit 35 or the unit 36. With the pointer in its extreme left hand position, which position it occupies when a light sheet is on the conveyor 8, the switches 42 and 42 are energized for holding the contactors 43. and 43' out of conducting relation to the contacts 39 and 40. With a medium weight sheet, however, the pointer occupies an intermediate position as shown in Figure 3, thereby intercepting the passage of light from the light source 31 to the unit 35. This renders such unit non-conductive, thus de-energizing the switch 42 and permitting the contactor 43 to engage contacts 39 and 40, and thus energize the coil 21 of the cross conveyor 14.

At this time light continues to pass to the unit 36, thereby maintaining the circuit for the coil 21 of the cross conveyor 15 open. Should the next sheet be a heavy sheet, the pointer will swing to the right, thus cutting off the unit 36 from the source of light and subjecting the unit 35 to the source of light. At this time the operation will be reversed, the cross conveyor l5'being energized and the cross conveyor 14 de-energized. The energization of the cross conveyor 15 will be effective for moving the heavy sheet in the direction of the arrow H.

During the swinging movement of the pointer 12 under the influence of a heavy sheet, the light to the unit 35 is necessarily temporarily intercepted before the pointer reaches a position in front of the unit 36. In order to preclude actua tion of the cross conveyor energized or controlled by the unit 35, there is preferably provided a scaletrip switch 35 in the circuit of said unit, which switch'is adapted to be opened when the scale moves to the position which it will assume under the weight of a heavy sheet. In this manner simultaneous energization of both of the cross conveyors is precluded.

By providing light shields 34 which are adjustable, the shielding effect of the pointer may be increased or diminished in point of range of effectiveness. By extending the shields 34 as viewed in Figure 4, the pointer will become effective for shielding the unit 35 upon a lesser movement, while by relatively collapsing the shields, a greater movement will be required to shield the unit 35. In this manner the plus or minus variable from a given weight may be changed at the will of the operator. In any case the construction will be such as to automatically effect a sorting of the sheets into three or more different groups.

In actual practice, the conveyor 8 is preferably driven at a speed higher than the conveyor 5 and the conveyors 14 and 15 at a speed higher than that of the conveyor 8. In this manner, the sheets are removed fast enough to prevent piling up of successive sheets in the apparatus and afford an opportunity for individually weighing successive sheets.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a mechanism for automatically weighing and/or sorting sheets whereby the specifications of a customer may be more accurately met and the output of the manufacturer more accurately controlled with a minimum of be understood that changes in the construction and operation of the parts may be made without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of our broader claims.

'We claim:

1. In a material handling apparatus, a movable supporting platform, means for lifting material from said platform and removing it therefrom in substantially the same horizontal plane, and

, means responsive to different movements of said platform for selectively rendering the lifting means effective to cause movement of material therefrom in predetermined different directions.

2. In a material handling apparatus, a movable platform adapted to receive sheet material, a plurality of conveying means thereabove for removing material therefrom in substantially the same horizontal plane, and means responsive to movements of said platform for selectively rendering said conveying means effective to lift material from the platform and move it in predetermined different directions.

3. In a material handling apparatus, a weighing mechanism including a platform and a member movable to different positions in accordance with the weight of the material on the platform, a plurality of conveyors above the platform disposed for cooperation with such material, and means responsive to movements of the member for rendering said conveyors selectively efiective to lift material from the platform and. move it therefrom in diflerent directions'but in substantially the same plane..

4. In an apparatus for weighing and sorting sheets, the combination with a conveyor, of a weighing platform onto which the conveyor discharges, a plurality of means cooperating with said platform, adapted selectively to lift sheets from said platform and move them in different directions at substantially the same level, and means operative in response to movements of said platform for causing the first-mentioned means to become efiective.

5. In a sheet handling apparatus, a platform adapted to receive and weigh successive sheets,

and conveying means at substantially the same level for removing sheets laterally from said platform in different directions in accordance with the weights of the sheets being weighed, said conveying means including magnetic rollers, and means for selectively magnetizing them in accordance with the weights of said-sheets.

6. Assorting mechanism for magnetic material comprising a conveyor mounted on a weighing balance, means for delivering material to said conveyor, magnetic means for lifting material from said conveyor and moving it laterally therefrom substantially at the level of the first-mentioned conveyor, and means controlled by the deflection of the balance for selectively energizing said magnetic means.

7. Asserting apparatus for magnetic material comprising a support carried on a balance, magnetic rolls above said support for moving material laterally thereof in different directions, and means actuated by the deflection of the balance for selectively magnetizing said rolls to pick up material from the support and remove it therefrom.

8. In an apparatus for weighing and sorting sheets, the combination with a conveyor, of a weighing platform onto which the conveyor discharges, a plurality of means cooperating with said platform, adapted selectively to move sheets from said platform in different directions at substantially the same level, and means operative in response to movements of said platform for magnetizing the sheets and causing them to engage one of the first-mentioned means.

9. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a movable platform for supporting material, of a scale having a member movable in response to movements of said platform, a plurality of conveying means adjacent the platform for removing material therefrom substantially at the same level but in different directions, and means responsive to movements of said member for .magnetizing the material on the platform and attracting it into engagement with one of said conveying means.

10. In a sheet handling apparatus, a platform adapted to receiveand weigh successive sheets, conveying means at substantially the same level for removing sheets laterally from said platform in different directions, and means for lifting the sheets into engagement with said means selectively in accordance with the weights of the sheets being weighed.

11. Assorting mechanism for magnetic material comprising a material support mounted on a weighing balance, means for delivering material to said support, assorting conveyors substantially at the level of said support, means for exerting a magnetic attraction on the material and drawing it into engagement with one of said assorting conveyors, and means actuated by the balance deflection for selectively controlling said secondmentioned means.

12. Article sorting apparatus comprising a balance hung support, means for delivering articles thereto, continuously driven conveyors for moving articles laterally from the support, means for magnetizing the articles and causing them to engage one of said conveyors selectively, and means actuated by the balance deflection for selectively controlling said second-mentioned means.

13. Article sorting apparatus comprising a bal- I 

